Chain pipe wrench



March 11, 1930. w. c. KRESS 1,750,043

01mm PIPE WRENCH Filed April 28, 1928 a MIQ 1 i 1 INVENTOR MM 6? M,

By Attorneys,

R Q MLW j provide certain improvements therein.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLARD C. KRESS, OFBUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR T0 J. H. WILLIAMS CO., OF

' BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CHAINIE'IPE wnnnonApplication filed April as,

The present invention relates to chain pipe wrenches, and moreparticularly to wrenches of the double-acting type provided with reversible, interchangeable jaws, and aims to In wrenches of this type theconstruction and arrangement ofparts is such that by a simple movementof the wrench, a pipe gripped thereby can be turned in either aclockwise or counter-clockwise direction without removing the chain fromabout the pipe. According to the present invention I provide the wrenchwith a handle which is offset at an angle to the longitudinal axis ofthe jaws, said handle being formed at one end with a cantileverprojection and hooks for engaging the detachable end of the chain, andat its opposite endwith means for cooperation with means at the free endof the chain for facilitating the stacking and handling of suchwrenches, especially those employing flat link chains. The cooperatingmeans at both the free end of the chain and the handle are preferablylatching means, and the chain and handle lengths are so chosen that thelatch handle.

can be engaged to hold the chain in a reasonably definite relation alongor parallel to the The invention also embodies other features of noveltywhich will be hereinafter made apparent.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a pipewrench embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view looking inthe direction of the arrows 3 3 of Fig. 1. c Fig. 4 is a transversesection taken substantially along the plane of the line H of Fig. 1. i i

Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section taken sub stantially along the plane ofthe line 5-5 of Fi 2. l

eferring to the drawings, let A indicate a wrench handle having anoflset portion A at one end thereof, against the opposite faces of whichare secured the jaw elements B, B through the mediumof securing bolts 0,C,

j the latter of which also serves as an anchor 1928. Serial No. 273,690.

for one terminal link d of the grip chain D,

the other end of which is provided with a novel link E adapted todetachably engage the free end of the handle A.

The handle A, it will be understood, may be of any preferred length andcross-section, and is herein shown as being of substantially l-shape incross-section and tapering from its jaw-supporting end to its free endwhereat it is formed with aslot a extending inwardly from said endsubstantially through the median plane of the handle, the function forwhich slot will presently appear. The offset position A of the handlehas opposite fiat faces against which the jaws seat and is provided atits top with hook-like projections F adapted to engage the detachableend of the gripping chain D, and with bolt openings through which thebolts C and C pass. To accommodate the links of the chain when thelatter is hooked to the projections F, the handle portion A is providedwith a channel G, and to permit free swinging action of the terminallink d of the chain about the bolt C, said handle portion A is formedwith a second channel G. The offset portion A of the handle also has acantilever projection H extending beyond its foremost bolt opening adistance slightly less than the distance between the bolt openingstherein for a purpose which will presently appear. a

The jaws B, B are identical in form and each consists of a substantiallyelliptical element symmetrical inform with respect to both its major andminor axes and provided at both its forward and rear, and top and bottomwith gripping faces 6, 5, hence they are interchangeable and reversiblein use. Between the front and rear gripping surfaces there is a plaincentral portion provided with a protrusion or hump b, the function forwhich will presently'appear; For securing the to the handle they areprovided with three bolt holes I symmetrically disposed along their major axes with respect to their minor axes, through the rearmost two ofwhich the securing bolts C, C pass. To provide proper seating surfacesfor the inner faces of the jaws, they are preferably machined or groundand are provided with bosses J for contact a formed in the free end ofthe handle.

with the outer surfaces of the handle offset portion A.

In chain wrenches of the type described it will be apparent that eithercable or flat chains may be employed. In either case it is desirablewhen carrying or stacking said wrenches when not in use, that the chainsshould assume a definite relation along or parallel to the handle so asnot to interfere with such carrying or stacking operations. This isparticularly true in wrenches employing fiat link chains which areflexible only in one direction and therefore awkward attimes to handlewhen carrying or stacking the wrenches. To overcome this awkwardness Ihave devised a novel latching means whereby by a simple movement thefree end of the chain may be instantly latched in definite relationsubstantially parallel to the wrench handle. To accomplish this thechain is preferably made of substantially the same length as the handle,and the terminal link at the free end of the chain modified so as to bereadily engageable in the slot a This terminal link E preferablyreplaces the two unused filler links commonly found at the extremitiesof flat chains and accomplishes the function of said filler links, andin addition thereto serves as a latching link and also as an improvedhand grip for passing the chain around a. pipe and conveniently hookinsaid chain when substantially all of the e ective chain length isrequired to encircle the'pipe. To hold said terminal link in latchingengagement its free end is preferably formed with an enlargement or boss6. As will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the slota in the end of the handle and the faces of the chain links lie inparallel planes.

In use, when it is desired to turn a pipe in a counter-clockwisedirection, the chain is first caused to encircle the pipe and the freeportion thereof hooked over the projections F with the pipe inengagement with the forward gripping faces of the jaws. In this positionthe excess length of chain is either bent back over itself or permittedto rest upon the lower end of the handle, the links of said chain inproximity to the hooks F seating in the channel G. Now if it is desiredto reverse the rotation of the pipe, that is, turn it in a clockwisedirection, the jaws are shifted with relation to the pipe by a simplemovement of the wrench handle, during which movement the jaws ride overthe pipe, the plain surfaces and humps 6' between the forward and rearjaws serving to facilitate this shifting movement and limit theslackening of the chain without removing the chain from its hookingengagement. In this latter position the chain. rests against thecantilever projection H, which, in effect, is the equivalent of havingthe chain anchored at the foremost bolt hole of the jaws, thus givingsubstantially identical grips, angles, stresses, etc., in turning a pipeeither in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. An inspection ofFigs. 1 and 5 of the drawings discloses at a glance that the handle A indeparting from the offset portion A projects beyond the top rear teethof the jaws in a manner to protect the hand of a user against lacerationby the teeth of said jaws when he engages the chain over the hooks F.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a chain pipewrench embodying certain features of novelty, and although I have shownand described but one embodiment of my invention it is to be understoodthat changes in the specific details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A pipe wrench comprising a handle having a slot in one end and a flatlink chain, one end of which is anchored near the end of the handleother than that having the slot and the other end of the chain beingengageable when not in use in said slot in the handle, the slot in thehandle and the faces of the chain links lying in parallel planes.

2. A pipe wrench comprising a handle, a chain, hooks on the handle forengaging the detachable end of the chain, a pair of interchangeable,reversible, elongated jaws disposed on opposite sides of the handle,having front and rear gripping faces symmetrically arranged with respectto their minor axes adapted to alternately engage a pipe at will to turnsaid pipe in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, saidjaws having three aligned holes symmetrically disposed with respect tosaid minor axes, bolts passing through the two rearmost holes securingthe jaws to the handle, a cantilever projection on said handle extendingforwardly along the line of the holes in. the jaws a distance such thatwhen the detachable end of the chain is engaged over the hooks on thehandle, the chain seats upon the end of said cantilever projection andin effect hooks at the foremost bolt holes when the rear gripping facesengage the pipe, and said chain being anchored to the rearmost bolt.

3. A pipe wrench comprising a handle, a chain, hooks on the handle forengaging the detachable end of the chain, a pair of interchangeable,reversible, elongated jaws disposed on opposite sides of the handle,having front and rear gripping faces symmetrically arranged with respectto their major and minor axes adapted to alternately engage a pipe atwill, to turn said pipe in either a clockwise or counter-clockwisedirection, said jaws having three holes symmetrically disposed alongtheir major axes with respect to said minor axes, bolts passing throughthe two rearmost holes securing the jaws to the handle, a cantileverprojection on said handle extending forwardly along the major axes ofthe aws a distance such that when the detachable end of the chain isengaged over the hooks on the handle, the chain seats upon the end ofsaid. cantilever projection and in effect hooks at the foremost boltholes when the rear gripping faces engage the pipe, and said chain beinganchored to the rearmost bolt.

4;. A pipe wrench comprising a handle, a chain, hooks on the handle forengaging the detachable end of the chain, a pair of interchangeable,reversible, elongated jaws disposed on opposite sides of the handlehaving front and rear gripping faces symmetrically disposed with respectto their minor axes adapted to alternately engage a pipe at will to turnsaid pipe in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, thefront and rear gripping surfaces being separated from each other by aplain central portion provided with a protrusion or hump to limit theslackening of chain when shifting from front to rear gripping faces orvice versa in reversing the action of the wrench.

5. A pipe wrench comprising an elongated handle, a chain, one end ofwhich is secured in proximity to one end of said handle, means also inproximityto said end of the handle for detachably engaging the chain atpoints remote from its secured end, and means on said handle remote fromsaid first mentioned end engageable with the chain when not in use, inproximity to its unsecured end to maintain the chain in a position alongthe handle.

6. A pipe wrench comprising an elongated handle, a chain, one end ofwhich is secured.

I in proximity to one end of said handle, means also in proximity tosaid end of the handle for detachably engaging the chain at pointsremote from its secured'end, and means on the other end of the handleengageable with the unsecured end of the chain when not in use, tomaintain the chain in a position along the handle.

7. A pipe wrench comprising an elongated handle, a chain, one end ofwhich is secured in proximity to one end of said handle, means also inproximity to said end of the handle for detachably engaging the chain atpoints remote from its secured end, and means on the other end of thehandle engageable with the unsecured end of the chain when not in use,

to maintain the chain in a position along the handle, said handle andchain being approximately the same length. 8. A pipe wrench comprisingan elongated handle, a chain, one end of which is secured in proximityto one end of said handle, means ed to hold the chain when not in use intion along the handle.

9. A pipe wrench comprising an elongated a posihandle, a chain, one endof which is secured my name.

WILLARD C. KRESS.

also in proximity to said end or" the handle for detachably engaging thechain at points remote from its secured end and cooperating latchingmeans on the other end of the handle and on the unsecured end of thechain adapt-

